Review: Maybelline Color Vivids and a Bittersweet Announcement!

Hey Everyone,
            The Pretty Pauper here! Hope you all had  fantastic weekend and are now enjoying this Monday. I don't know how you all spent your Sunday evenings but I spent most of the night reading tweets after tweet about the MTV awards. Man! So much drama and scandal packed into one room. Ha! Well, all drama aside, the stars had some pretty awesome looks tonight which I am always interested in. Now, on to the review!

Today, I am giving you a review on a product i have been using and loving for a while now. It's the Maybelline Color Vivids Lipstick.

Product Summary
These bright shades claim to offer bright opaque color that last all day. The vivids line come in 8 shades and offer a honey nectar formula that claims to soften lips and keep them hydrated. They come in an orange tube and have a color swatch and name on the bottom. They run for about $9 at any drugstore that carry Maybelline.

The Application
The application is pretty normal. No special instructions are stated so I just applied like normal. I noticed the color instantly and on swipe applied a bright, pigmented shade.

The Lasting Power
These bad boys stick well. I did re-apply a few times through out they day when the center or my lips would fade but that was just me being picky. I would say these guys last a good amount of time but they will leave residue on cups or food. These are not a stain so they don't dry out the lips either. 

The Final Word
I love them! These super pigmented shades are now a staple in my makeup collection and really surprised me. They last a long time, the color payoff is good and they come in a variety of fun shades. I look forward to re-purchasing and purchasing other colors in this line! Go get them now!!!

From the Left: Haute Plum, Pink Pop and shocking Coral

 

So that's it guys! I know this is a short, to the point review but I wanted to give you guys something to chew on. Now, onto the announcement.

As you know, life can get crazy and that seems to be whats going on here these days. Between work and plans and family, something always gets tossed on the back burner. I have been so busy and my life has been insane! The next few weeks is going to be crazy crazy CRAZY. I have so much to catch up on and I need to take a break. SO, The Pretty Pauper is going on hiatus. I love you all to bits and I will be back within the next few weeks. I am unsure of a date but I will keep you informed and posted. You can follow my twitter for updates or even check out my instagram which are all linked on this home page. When I get back I will be back with full force. I am hoping to have more posts throughout the week and more youtube videos up soon too. My video editing program is giving me technical difficulties and it will take me time to figure those out too. But stay tuned for that. I have an interview with an up-and-coming makeup artist coming your way when I get back as well as a HUGE review on my new Lime Crime Velvetine!!! So stay tuned for that!

I want to take a moment to thank all my loyal readers and members. I love you all and appreciate all your support. I will be back full throttle soon, all I need is some time to re-coup and deal with the craziness!

So, that's about if folks! Please stay tuned. I also want to know....when

I come back, what are some things you want to see on  the blog? Tutorials, more reviews, D.I.Y's...etc? Please let me know.

So, until next time my loves. Au revoir! 

Love,

Sarah XXO

Hot Trend Alert: Bold Lips

Hey all you Beauties out there in cyberspace,

              Well it's Friday and that means it was payday for moi and payday equals shopping. I ended up in Sephora (Yes, when I say "ended up" I mean "made a bee line for it") and I really wanted to find a bold and funky lip color. You know when you go into Sephora there is like a rainbow of lip colors and a huge variety of brands to choose from. I was looking for more of my normal, pink, red or coral but I noticed a purple color from Makeup Forever and instantly fell in love. Bold lips are a huge deal for the season and I gotta say, I'm lovin' it. I just love how diverse all the color palettes are. It's super exciting. But some people (including myself at one time) feel like it takes alot to pull off bold lips. They think it will wash them out or that people will look at them funny. Well, here are a few pointers for pulling off bold lips.

Tip #1
Bold lips are fun, a raspberry color in the fall can warm up any look. A hot pink in the summer can make a beach day your very own photo shoot and a cherry red can make anything look good. But sometimes people underestimate the power of a bold lip. They go way too far. When thinking bold lips, think in terms of less is more. You really don't need a whole whack of eye shadow on your eyes to pull of the bold lips. My first tip is, when wearing bold lips, take it easy on the eyes. A naked eye will allow the lipstick to do all the talking. I like a do a matte skin toned shadow all over (up to the brow) and a thin winged liner on top. On the bottom I usually opt for a gold or white liner. This gives definition without screaming overdone.

Tip #2
Bold lips are fun but only if the color lasts. I have learned this lesson the hard way. I have got out of my house with some awesome, sexy bold lips but by the time I arrive at my destination, the lipstick has worn off and only lines my lips. This is a problem alot of us have and I find when I skip this step, I regret it later. Here's the deal: You want to apply your lipstick (preferably with liner but that doesn't always happen), Blot, reapply, blot and reapply again. This seems like alot of work but trust me when I say, you will notice the difference. You can even apply a dab of translucent powder between coats as well and you can do a third round of application for a more intense color, if you desire.

Tip #3
Take your time. This is the most important tip because the way you apply bold lipstick defines the way it will looks at the end of the process. Sometimes life gets rushed and we just need to hurry out the door, but lipstick defines the look and you never want to rush a high pigmented color. High pigmented colors can leave a stain when removed, therefore no matter what you do to try and remove it, there will always be a faint stain. My thing is, follow your natural lip line if possible and if the lip line is undefined, then use a lip pencil in the closest shade to the lip stick color you are using. This will help give an even shape.

Tip #4
My final tip for you is, wear your lipstick with confidence! Sometimes when trying something new that no one has seen you in before can make us self conscience that people are staring and lets be honest, sometimes when someone walks into a room with bright orangy red lipstick we tend to notice that first. But when someone walks into the room and shows that no matter what anyone thinks, they feel fabulous, that's when these colors work.

I hope this little list of tips gives you some food for thought and helped you decide if the bold lips trend is for you. Remember, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder', so if you think your beautiful, the world will too. So go out and rock those bold lips!

Up Next on The OBQ: Ever heard of 'tight lining'? If not, you'll want to check out my next post AND my review of E.L.F is coming soon too! Stay Tuned...

 

Hair One Review & New Lipstick from M.A.C

Hey Everyone,

How are my Beauts doing this fine evening? Good news, my blog has been getting way more views thanks to everyone who has been recommending. I wanted to again give a special shoutout to anyone who recommended me. You guys are all fabulous! Don't forget that I also have a facebook page yearning for fans.

So, are any of you familiar with the product Wen ? If not, it's basically a sulfate free cleansing conditioner. I came across a 'knockoff' if you will, of Wen called Hair One. It probably about a forth of the cost of Wen. I have never tried either, until now. I found the Hair One packettes at a local Sally Beauty Supply store and decided to give it a whirl. (I also needed to wash my hair that night and had ran out of shampoo) It was about $3 for the packette. I have alot of hair, it's finer, but I have alot of it. The packette, suprisingly, covered my whole head. Since it's sulfate free, the are absolutly no suds, which means that it wont lather at all. It's basically putting conditioner all over your hair. Before you write this off, let me explain the benefits. Cleansing condioner claims to cleanse and moisturize the hair without stripping the natural oils or the color. Cleansing conditioner is a good idea when taking a break from the normal everyday shampoo's because it gives your hair a break from sulfates which can weaken hair and fade color.

When I started putting it on, I noticed that I needed alot of it. There is alot more required than normal shampooing. First, you have to rinse your hair thouroughly before applying the cleanser. Then you apply a good sized amount to your roots and work it in for like 3 minutes. When I say 'Work it in' , I mean WORK IT IN! I had to add more to cover my roots. After that you add it to your hair to cover mid-shaft to the ends. I really worked it in to get the full affect and the best results. The instructed suggest leaving it on for 3-5 minutes before rinsing.

So, was it worth the work? Was I converted to Hair One girl? Well, the answer to both those questions is a big fat 'NO'. I thought that it was more trouble than it's worth and was quit disappointed. I am one of the people who likes their hair to squeak when it's washed. And I'm sorry, sulfates or no sulfates, I like my shampoo to lather. I think it cleansed well, but I just don't like this 'sulfate free' thing. It really defeats the purpose to me. Now that being said, some people try not to wash their hair often and may appriciate this product as being a cleansing conditioner. I am not now, nor will I ever be a Hair One girl. I will stick to my Mane 'n' Tail thank you.

Now, onto bigger and brighter things, like my new M.A.C lipstick!

I am totally in love with this color. I tried it on for the first time today just before work. My theory was that by the time I got to work it would be rubbed off anyways, but it didn't! This stuff stuck like no tomorrow. It lasted me my entire 6 hour shift (was a pale pink by the end of the day). I got tons of compliments on it. This was quite a splurge for me, it was about $20ish after taxes. But after seeing my manager with it, I knew it was meant to be.It is part of the Viva Glam collection and it's a Nicki Minaj color. Apparently every cent goes to charity too, so I guess that's a good thing. Looking hot and supporting a good cause, sounds fair :)

Well, that's it for me Lads.

Lots 'o Love.

Sarah